Companies commit to cutting plastic pollution 英国塑料协定：多家公司共同承诺减少污染
在英国，已有40多家公司报名加入了一个旨在未来七年里减少塑料污染的协定。这些公司做出了一系列承诺，包括保证将通过更优化的产品设计来严守杜绝使用一次性塑料包装。
The companies range from consumer giants like Proctor and Gamble and Coca-Cola to supermarkets including Asda and Marks and Spencer. And they've come together with government, trade associations and campaigners to form what's called a Plastics Pact.
签署协定的公司包括从宝洁和可口可乐这样的消费品巨头到阿斯达和马莎等超市，种类繁多。它们与政府、贸易协会以及环保人士们共同组成了名为“英国塑料协定”的环保项目。
It's a series of pledges meant to tackle plastic pollution over the next seven years. For example, to improve designs to make recycling easier - many products are currently made with a mix of different types of plastic. Also to cut out unnecessary single-use packaging and to include more recycled plastic in new products.
该协定包括一系列旨在接下来七年着手处理塑料污染问题承诺。比如，通过改善设计而简化回收过程，因为目前有很多商品是用不同种类的塑料混合制成的。还有停止使用不必要的一次性包装以及在新产品中加入更多再生塑料。
The move has been welcomed by environmental groups, who've long-argued that pollution can never be reduced until products are designed with recycling in mind. But Friends of the Earth says government measures are also needed to make sure the targets are met.
此举得到了各环保团体的支持，他们一直认为，除非在商品设计之初就考虑到回收利用，否则污染是不会被减少的。但环保组织“地球之友”称，政府需要采取相关措施，以确保目标得以实现。
1. 词汇表 consumer giants 消费品巨头
Plastics Pact 塑料协定
pledges 承诺，保证
to tackle 着手处理、解决（难题）
single-use 一次性的
the move 该举措，该做法
in mind 考虑到
targets 目标
2. 阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。 1. Name something the new Plastics Pact aims to do.
2. What currently makes recycling certain plastic products difficult?
3. True or false? Environmental groups are happy about this new Plastics Pact.
4. Why does single-use packaging create so much waste?
3. 答案 1. Name something the new Plastics Pact aims to do.
It aims to improve designs to make recycling easier and to cut out unnecessary single-use packaging and to include more recycled plastic in new products.
2. What currently makes recycling certain plastic products difficult?
Many products are currently made with a mix of different types of plastic, not all of which can be recycled.
3. True or false? Environmental groups are happy about this new Plastics Pact.
True. Environmental groups have welcomed the pact.
4. Why does single-use packaging create so much waste?
Because it can only be used once – it is 'single-use'.